What Else?
Kate seemed glued to the spot where she stood looking at Castle. They both understood the implications of the song that was filling the air around them. It was playing both in their ears and with their minds.
Castle expected to see disbelief in Kate's eyes, worry, maybe fear, but he wasn't prepared for the look of terror on her face. He wasn't in the best shape himself. It wasn't that long ago that Tyson had turned his life wrong side out, came close to ruining him, tried to push Kate from him. It brought things back almost as if they were new.
"Kate?" He held his arms out to her.
She was still rooted firmly to the place where she stood, horror filling her eyes. "It isn't over, is it?" she whispered shakily, her voice sounding stronger and more agitated with each new phrase she uttered. What else will he do to us, Rick…or what will she do…or they? How many ways can they try to destroy us? And with no records of anything he's done, how do we prove anything? Do we tell your family and worry them or not tell them and hope for the best? How do we…"
Seeing the possibility of an anxiety attack, he couldn't hold back any longer. Covering the distance between them in one long stride, he took her in his arms. "Breathe, Kate. Breathe with me." He conscientiously kept his breaths slow and steady, even though his heart was racing like hers; and she curled against him and gradually followed until they were both calming down, which was probably aided by the fact that the song had run its course and was no longer playing.
I know I was part of the fallout before…when he framed you, but I'm the only one left from his original anger. Gates wasn't there then. How is he going to use me to hurt you this time? What if he makes it look like you can't trust me? We know he can do it. Your family already has reasons to doubt me, but I…"
"Kate, you defended me…trusted me when nothing told you that you should. I'll do the same for you. We're going to get married, and trust each other for life. Don't start doubting that."
"Promise me that if something happens and I say it wasn't me, you'll believe me?"
"Always."
"No matter how bad it looks? I can't lose you now."
"Always."
She finally relaxed enough to wrap her arms around his waist without moving from the comfort of his embrace.
"We have nothing to fight back with, Castle…not even a fingerprint."
"He's good…or she's good… But we're good, too. He won't win."
Kate pulled back a little, looking surprised for some reason. "The doctor's card. She very deliberately pushed it across the desk to me…with her fingertip."
Castle answered cautiously, "You don't suppose…"